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Ploppert E, Jacob J, Deutsch A, Watanabe S, Gillenwater K, Choe A, Cruz GB, Cabañas E, Vasquez MA, Ayaz Z, Neuwirth LS, Lambert K. Influence of Effort-based Reward Training on Neuroadaptive Cognitive Responses: Implications for Preclinical Behavioral Approaches for Depressive Symptoms. Neuroscience 2022; 500:63-78. [PMID: 35961524 PMCID: PMC9464718 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite the presence of multiple pharmacotherapeutic options, incidence rates for depressive disorders continue to rise. Nonpharmacological approaches (e.g., cognitive and behavioral therapies) exhibit encouraging efficacy rates; however, a lack of preclinical models has prevented progress in the identification of relevant neurobiological mechanisms of these approaches. Accordingly, the effort-based reward (EBR) preclinical model exposes rats to response-outcome (R-O) contingencies and provides an opportunity to investigate behavioral clinical approaches. In the current study, male and female rats were assigned to either an EBR contingent- or noncontingent-trained group and exposed to 7 weeks of training. Neuroadaptive cognitive responses were assessed in a cognitive uncertainty task (UT) and an object pattern separation task (OPST). Although no significant effects of EBR were observed in the UT, EBR contingent-trained rats approached the novel panel in the most difficult trial of the OPST faster than the noncontingent-trained group. Additionally, female EBR contingent-trained rats exhibited increased engagement with the novel stimulus panel across all trials. Examination of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the lateral habenula (LHb), a putative neurobiological target for depressive symptoms, revealed lower BDNF immunoreactivity in EBR contingent-trained rats. Females in both training groups exhibited higher dehydroepiandrosterone/cortisol (DHEA/CORT) ratios, suggesting, along with the increased engagement with novel stimulus panels, that female rats may be more responsive to EBR contingency training than males. Together, these results suggest that EBR contingency training offers promise as a preclinical rat model for behavioral therapeutic interventions for depressive symptoms leading to a clearer understanding of putative neurobiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Ploppert
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Joanna Jacob
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ana Deutsch
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sally Watanabe
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Alison Choe
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - George B Cruz
- Dept of Biology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, USA; SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Ericka Cabañas
- Dept of Biology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, USA; SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Michelle A Vasquez
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, Old Westbury, NY, USA; Dept Chemistry & Physics, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Zaid Ayaz
- Dept of Biology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, USA; SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Lorenz S Neuwirth
- SUNY Neuroscience Research Institute, Old Westbury, NY, USA; Dept of Psychology, SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Lambert
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Kent MH, Jacob JC, Bowen G, Bhalerao J, Desinor S, Vavra D, Leserve D, Ott KR, Angeles B, Martis M, Sciandra K, Gillenwater K, Glory C, Meisel E, Choe A, Olivares-Navarrete R, Puetzer JL, Lambert K. Disrupted development from head to tail: Pervasive effects of postnatal restricted resources on neurobiological, behavioral, and morphometric outcomes. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:910056. [PMID: 35990727 PMCID: PMC9389412 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.910056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
When a maternal rat nurtures her pups, she relies on adequate resources to provide optimal care for her offspring. Accordingly, limited environmental resources may result in atypical maternal care, disrupting various developmental outcomes. In the current study, maternal Long-Evans rats were randomly assigned to either a standard resource (SR) group, provided with four cups of bedding and two paper towels for nesting material or a limited resource (LR) group, provided with a quarter of the bedding and nesting material provided for the SR group. Offspring were monitored at various developmental phases throughout the study. After weaning, pups were housed in same-sex dyads in environments with SRs for continued observations. Subsequent behavioral tests revealed a sex × resource interaction in play behavior on PND 28; specifically, LR reduced play attacks in males while LR increased play attacks in females. A sex × resource interaction was also observed in anxiety-related responses in the open field task with an increase in thigmotaxis in LR females and, in the social interaction task, females exhibited more external rears oriented away from the social target. Focusing on morphological variables, tail length measurements of LR males and females were shorter on PND 9, 16, and 21; however, differences in tail length were no longer present at PND 35. Following the behavioral assessments, animals were perfused at 56 days of age and subsequent immunohistochemical assays indicated increased glucocorticoid receptors in the lateral habenula of LR offspring and higher c-Fos immunoreactivity in the basolateral amygdala of SR offspring. Further, when tail vertebrae and tail tendons were assessed via micro-CT and hydroxyproline assays, results indicated increased trabecular separation, decreased bone volume fraction, and decreased connectivity density in bones, along with reduced collagen concentration in tendons in the LR animals. In sum, although the restricted resources only persisted for a brief duration, the effects appear to be far-reaching and pervasive in this early life stress animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly H. Kent
- Department of Biology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA, United States
| | - Joanna C. Jacob
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Gabby Bowen
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Janhavi Bhalerao
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Stephanie Desinor
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Dylan Vavra
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Danielle Leserve
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Kelly R. Ott
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Benjamin Angeles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Michael Martis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Katherine Sciandra
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | | | - Clark Glory
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Eli Meisel
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Allison Choe
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Rene Olivares-Navarrete
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Puetzer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Kelly Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kelly Lambert,
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Natale NR, Kent M, Fox N, Vavra D, Lambert K. Neurobiological effects of a probiotic-supplemented diet in chronically stressed male Long-Evans rats: Evidence of enhanced resilience. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2021; 11:207-215. [PMID: 34849506 PMCID: PMC8607205 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Probiotics that regulate the microbiome-gut-brain axis and provide mental health benefits to the host are referred to as psychobiotics. Preclinical studies have demonstrated psychobiotic effects on early life stress-induced anxiety- and depression-related behavior in rodents; however, the specific mechanisms remain ill-defined. In the current study, we investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation on neurobiological responses to chronic stress in adult male Long-Evans rats. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to probiotic (PB) or vehicle control (VEH) groups, then to either chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) or no-stress control (CON) conditions within each group (n = 6/subgroup). We hypothesized that PB supplementation would reduce markers of anxiety and enhance emotional resilience, especially in the CUS animals. In the cognitive uncertainty task, a nonsignificant trend was observed indicating that the PB-supplemented animals spent more time oriented toward the food reward than VEH animals. In the open-field task, CUS-PB animals spent more time in the center of the arena than CUS-VEH animals, an effect not observed between the two CON groups. In the swim task, the PB animals, regardless of stress assignment, exhibited increased floating, suggesting a conserved response in a challenging context. Focusing on the endocrine measures, higher dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-to-corticosterone fecal metabolite ratios, a correlate of emotional resilience, were observed in PB animals. Further, PB animals exhibited reduced microglia immunoreactivity in the basolateral amygdala, possibly indicating a neuroprotective effect of PB supplements in this rodent model. These results provide evidence that PB supplementation interacts with stress exposure to influence adaptive responses associated with endocrine, neural, and behavioral indices of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick R. Natale
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, VA 23173, USA
| | - Molly Kent
- Dept of Biology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 24450, USA
| | - Nathan Fox
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, VA 23173, USA
| | - Dylan Vavra
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, VA 23173, USA
| | - Kelly Lambert
- Dept of Psychology, University of Richmond, VA 23173, USA
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Scarola S, Kent M, Neal S, Trejo JP, Bardi M, Lambert K. Postpartum environmental challenges alter maternal responsiveness and offspring development. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104761. [PMID: 32330549 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Because many threats exist in an animal's natural habitat, it is important to understand the impact of environmental challenges on maternal-offspring interactions and outcomes. In the current study, a rodent model incorporating the presence of restricted resources and an environmental threat (e.g. predator-related odors and sounds) was investigated. Specifically, pregnant females were assigned to one of four treatments: standard resources, without threat (SR; n = 7); standard resources plus threat (SR-T; n = 8); restricted resources, without threat (RR; n = 7); and restricted resources plus threat (RR-T; n = 6). Maternal rats were moved into the assigned conditions on postnatal day 2 and remained until pups were weaned. Following a standard pup retrieval task on postnatal days 2 and 6, maternal rats were exposed to a retrieval challenge task on postnatal day 8 in which each rat had to traverse a novel barrier to retrieve pups. For neurobiological measures of stress/resilience responsiveness, fecal samples were collected for detection of corticosterone and DHEA metabolites; additionally, immunohistochemistry was conducted on the maternal brains to indicate the presence of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Pup development measures, including body weight and tail length, were also collected. Results suggest that maternal rats with restricted resources exhibited diminished maternal responsiveness that resulted in altered pup development measures; further, restricted resource rats exhibited endocrine markers of compromised emotional resilience (lower DHEA) and decreased neural markers of neuroplasticity (BDNF) and emotional resilience (NPY). Interestingly, predator threat affected various aspects of maternal-pup interactions but had no effect on neurobiological variables, suggesting that restricted resources had a more negative impact on maternal-related outcomes than the presence of predator threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Scarola
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Molly Kent
- Department of Biology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 25440, USA
| | - Steven Neal
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Jose Perdomo Trejo
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Massimo Bardi
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Kelly Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173, USA.
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Lambert K, Hunter RG, Bartlett AA, Lapp HE, Kent M. In search of optimal resilience ratios: Differential influences of neurobehavioral factors contributing to stress-resilience spectra. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 56:100802. [PMID: 31738947 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The ability to adapt to stressful circumstances, known as emotional resilience, is a key factor in the maintenance of mental health. Several individual biomarkers of the stress response (e.g., corticosterone) that influence an animal's position along the continuum that ranges from adaptive allostasis to maladaptive allostatic load have been identified. Extending beyond specific biomarkers of stress responses, however, it is also important to consider stress-related responses relative to other relevant responses for a thorough understanding of the underpinnings of adaptive allostasis. In this review, behavioral, neurobiological, developmental and genomic variables are considered in the context of emotional resilience [e.g., explore/exploit behavioral tendencies; DHEA/CORT ratios and relative proportions of protein-coding/nonprotein-coding (transposable) genomic elements]. As complex and multifaceted relationships between pertinent allostasis biomediators are identified, translational applications for optimal resilience are more likely to emerge as effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Lambert
- Dept of Psychology, B326 Gottwald Science Center, University of Richmond, VA 23173, United States.
| | - Richard G Hunter
- Dept of Psychology, University of Massachusetts-Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 00252, United States
| | - Andrew A Bartlett
- Dept of Psychology, University of Massachusetts-Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 00252, United States
| | - Hannah E Lapp
- Dept of Psychology, University of Massachusetts-Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 00252, United States
| | - Molly Kent
- Dept of Psychology, B326 Gottwald Science Center, University of Richmond, VA 23173, United States
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Lambert K, Eisch AJ, Galea LAM, Kempermann G, Merzenich M. Optimizing brain performance: Identifying mechanisms of adaptive neurobiological plasticity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:60-71. [PMID: 31356835 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Although neuroscience research has debunked the late 19th century claims suggesting that large portions of the brain are typically unused, recent evidence indicates that an enhanced understanding of neural plasticity may lead to greater insights related to the functional capacity of brains. Continuous and real-time neural modifications in concert with dynamic environmental contexts provide opportunities for targeted interventions for maintaining healthy brain functions throughout the lifespan. Neural design, however, is far from simplistic, requiring close consideration of context-specific and other relevant variables from both species and individual perspectives to determine the functional gains from increased and decreased markers of neuroplasticity. Caution must be taken in the interpretation of any measurable change in neurobiological responses or behavioral outcomes, as definitions of optimal functions are extremely complex. Even so, current behavioral neuroscience approaches offer unique opportunities to evaluate adaptive functions of various neural responses in an attempt to enhance the functional capacity of neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Lambert
- Dept of Psychology, B326 Gottwald Science Center, University of Richmond, VA, 23173, USA.
| | - Amelia J Eisch
- Dept of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA.
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Dept of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T, Canada.
| | - Gerd Kempermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden and CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden at Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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Browne CA, Hammack R, Lucki I. Dysregulation of the Lateral Habenula in Major Depressive Disorder. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2018; 10:46. [PMID: 30581384 PMCID: PMC6292991 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical evidence implicates hyperexcitability of the lateral habenula (LHb) in the development of psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD). This discrete epithalamic nucleus acts as a relay hub linking forebrain limbic structures with midbrain aminergic centers. Central to reward processing, learning and goal directed behavior, the LHb has emerged as a critical regulator of the behaviors that are impaired in depression. Stress-induced activation of the LHb produces depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, anhedonia and aversion in preclinical studies. Moreover, deep brain stimulation of the LHb in humans has been shown to alleviate chronic unremitting depression in treatment resistant depression. The diverse neurochemical processes arising in the LHb that underscore the emergence and treatment of MDD are considered in this review, including recent optogenetic studies that probe the anatomical connections of the LHb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Robert Hammack
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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